Post-Colonial Theory An introduction

Additional Details:

This course serves as an introduction to major thinkers and concepts in post-colonial theory. In order to focus our efforts initially, we will look at the specific history of colonization in sub-Saharan Africa and the writing of that history. Special attention will be paid to the ways in which the colonial history of the region continues to play a role in current events affecting both Africa and the rest of the world. The overall aim of the course is to provide students with a critical understanding of how the ‘colonial’ and ‘post-colonial’ are both constituted and contested through the writing of history. Some of the thinkers we consider include Steve Biko, Aime Cesaire, Frantz Fanon, Walter Rodney, Edward Said and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, among others. This class will be taught in a hybrid format with some of our time together taking place online (on Canvas). This will be explained in further detail during our first meeting

Goals of the Course

¨ To develop critical and comparative historical and analytic skills

¨ To gain a basic understanding of sub-Saharan colonial history

¨ To become familiar with fundamental concepts in post-colonial theory.

Catalog Description:

Examines a different subject or problem from a comparative framework with an interdisciplinary perspective. Satisfies the Gateways major/minor requirement. Offered: AWSp.